ENLIGHTENING THE PROFANE

Profane - from "pro," without "fanum," temple.
Literally one "before," or "outside the temple." In the Masonic sense a
"profane" is one who has not been initiated.

"No, I'm not a Mason. I've never been asked to join!"

How many times has this been said, usually with some
indignation, in answer to the question, "Are you a Mason?" It comes to some men
with a shock of distinct surprise that Freemasonry asks no man to join her
ranks. In this refusal to proselyte - nay, in the distant prohibition of
any proselyting - Freemasonry, curiously enough, joins hands with Brahminism,
the religion of much of the Orient, which has the distinction among religions of
attempting to make no converts. In its refusal to seek membership,
Freemasonry stand alone among organizations. The reasons are dual:
First, Freemasonry, greater than any man, no matter how important he may be,
confers honor upon her initiates. She is never honored by any man seeking
her mysteries. Second, it is an essential part of Freemasonry that a man
come of "his own free will and accord." The Fraternity obligates a
candidate for all time. "Once a Mason, always a Mason" is a truth, no
matter how little interest the member may take, no matter if he demits, no
matter if he be dropped N.P.D. or even expelled; he cannot "un-make" himself as
a Mason, nor can he avoid moral responsibility for the obligations he has
assumed.

Could any man say: "I joined under a
misapprehension, I was over persuaded, I was argued into membership," he might
think himself possessed of just such a cause and a reason for a failure to live
up to the obligations which no longer interest him. But no man does so
join. He must declare in his petition, and around a dozen times during the
course of his progress through the degrees, that his application is voluntary.
Were any persuasion used upon him before he signed his petition, he could not
truthfully state that his entry was "of his own free will and accord."

This is pretty well grounded in most Freemasons.
But sometimes it has the untoward effect of making a Mason Chary of giving
legitimate information about the Fraternity, properly sought for a worthy
purpose. It is highly improper to say to one's friend "I wish you'd
join my lodge, I'd like to see you enjoy the advantages of Freemasonry."
It is wholly legitimate to answer a serious question asked by some man who is
considering making an application. Some good brethren when asked questions
about Masonry by the profane are puzzled as to just how much they may tell.
Knowing well certain matters of which they must not speak, they are not always
sure just where these end, and where begins that which may not be told.
Much more is tellable than is secret. Literally thousands and multiplied
thousands of books have been written on and about the Ancient Craft; the
Aporetta, or secrets of Freemasonry, could they be written at all, might be
compressed within a few pages. Let us suppose then, that we are asked by a
sincere man: "Tell me something of Freemasonry. I think I would like
to be a Freemason, but I know very little about it."

Such a query is the key which may legitimately unlock our
lips about those outward matters concerning the Fraternity which all the world
may know.

We may begin by assuring the questioner that Freemasonry
brings as many duties and responsibilities as it does pleasures and rewards.
The Freemason becomes a link in a chain; he must be as strong as the next link
or we want him not. He who looks to the Fraternity to provides all, give
all, and receive nothing, should apply to some other organization.

It is legitimate to explain the structure of Freemasonry
to a seriously interested questioner. Freemasons gather together in
lodges; local organizations chartered by, and holding existence under the Grand
Lodge of the State in which they live and are. A lodge comes into being
when the Grand Master gives a dispensation to meet, U.D. (Under Dispensation);
it becomes a "regular" lodge when its Charter is granted by the Grand Lodge.

It is no secret that a lodge has a Master, two Wardens,
two Deacons, a Secretary and a Treasurer, etc. It is not, perhaps,
necessary to go at length into the several duties of these officers, but it may
be wise to explain the essential difference between a Worshipful Master of a
Lodge, and the President or other presiding officer of secular bodies. A
Master, once installed, may not be removed by his brethren, only by the Grand
Master or the Grand Lodge. Within bounds he is all powerful in his Lodge;
not the servant of his brethren, as is the presiding officer of a club, but
literally the "Master," with power to control and limit debate, put or not put
motions, open and close Lodge at his pleasure, call special meetings, and so on.
All such matters are set forth in printed books and usually in the code or
Ahiman Rezon of the Grand Lodge.

Lodges naturally and rightly attempt to guard their West
Gates against the entry of men who desire only to receive Masonic charity.
For this reason it is natural to look with especially careful eyes at the
petition of the elderly man. When a man of mature years inquires regarding
Freemasonry, we may well explain that while a Mason's Charity is as boundless as
his ability, Freemasonry. is not, per se, an eleemosynary institution. It
does not exist primarily for charitable purposes, nor is charity its greatest
work. In many Jurisdictions are Masonic Homes, Hospitals, Schools, Charity
Foundations intended for unfortunate members of the Fraternity, their widows and
orphans - sometimes their mothers and sisters. They are not designed for
the relief of the poor who are not members of the Fraternity, and those
unconnected to members by blood ties. Therefore the man who desires to
become a Mason that he may take advantage of its charity is turned back long
before he reaches the West Gate. The more an applicant appears as if he
may in the future need help, the more carefully does the investigating committee
work to discover the facts.

Totally misunderstanding the purpose and spirit of
Freemasonry some men seek it for business advantages. Freemasons naturally
frown upon such petitions. But scorn should not be meted out to an
ignorant profane seeking knowledge. A man may be a good citizen, a good
churchman, a good businessman and yet know nothing of Freemasonry. If such
a one, in the course of his inquiry regarding the Fraternity, exhibits an
interest in the business advantages which may inure to him through membership in
a lodge, it is legitimate to explain - courteously but with emphasis - that
Freemasonry is not a Board of Trade, a Chamber of Commerce, a Luncheon or
Commercial Club; and that it makes no effort to aid its members in commercial
relations. The man who wants to become a Freemason because he thinks
Freemasonry can help him can never be a good Mason. He who desires
Freemasonry because he thinks he can help his fellows is already a Mason in his
heart.

Other things being equal, Masons usually prefer to have
business relations with their brethren, in the same way a man may prefer to buy
footwear from his blood brother who is in the shoe business. But no one
will pay his blood brother ten dollars a pair for shoes he can buy for half
price from a non-relative!

It is unquestionable true, and may be stated to the
serious inquirer, that Freemasonry does play a quiet and unostentatious part in
the business lives of its members. But it should be emphasized that this
is a by-product of mutual friendship and association, and the he who seeks
Freemasonry for this alone will be bitterly disappointed. We all know of
popular members of our lodge who win and keep the business of their brethren
because of their likability. But we also know that this is not the result
of any effort by the successful brother to win that which is freely given him.
The brother who attempts to make his lodge association a feeder for his vocation
is invariably hit by the boomerang of an aroused antipathy which hurts as much
as he hoped to be helped.

All this may be explained to the inquirer. We may
well quote a part of the Charge to an Entered Apprentice, as it is printed in
most Jurisdictions: "If, in the circle of your acquaintance, you find a
person desirous of being initiated into Masonry, be particularly attentive not
to recommend him, unless you are convinced that he will conform to our rules,
the honor, glory and reputation of the Fraternity may be firmly established, and
the world at large convinced of its good effects."

Often a Mason is asked by a profane: "What does
Masonry stand for?

What does it do?"

It is much more difficult to explain to one without the
mystic circle what Masonry "does," than what it is. What Masonry "stands
for" should be easy for any Freemason to explain. We may inform the
inquirer that the Fraternity "stands for" country, home and public school; for
law and order; and decency; for honor, morality and religion; for brotherhood,
relief and the inculcation of truth. Parts of our ritual are printed in
books and in monitors. There is nothing secret about this; while we do not
go about spouting non-secret ritual upon all occasions; there is no reason why
we should not and many reasons why we should, to be able to point out by such
quotations some of the principles of Masonry. The essential matter is to
give a true picture of the Fraternity to all who express a desire for it.
Freemasonry is not a "secret society" - although it is often incorrectly so
called - but a "society with secrets" which is quite another matter. In a
"secret society" the membership, existence and whereabouts is a secret.
Freemasonry's membership, existence or whereabouts is no secret. Men
proudly wear the emblems on their coats and watch chains. Many Grand
Lodges publish lists of their members. Most Grand Lodges maintain card
systems of all Masons in their Jurisdictions, so that it is possible to
ascertain whether or not a certain John Smith is a Mason. Our Temples are
proud buildings, well built, handsome monuments for all the world to see.
Our printed Proceedings are to be had in every library. Newspapers carry
notices of lodge matters, A flourishing Masonic Press carries news of the
Craft far and wide. Obviously, we are not "secret" although we possess
jealously guarded "secrets." Any profane has a natural right to know something
about Masonry that he may decide whether it is an organization with which he
wishes to associate. If we refrain from advertising our activities it is not
because they are secret, but because they are private; not because they must not
be told when there is a reason for telling them, but because we do not wish to
persuade any man to our doors. We want him to come, if he comes at all,
from an inherent desire, from having conceived a regard for the Fraternity, from
his belief that he has something to offer Masonry and that Masonry has something
to offer him.

Such a man naturally asks questions of Freemasons.
Once he has made inquiry, the door is opened and we may tell him much. Let
us make sure that what we tell him is less, rather than more than the truth.
Let us never soil our gentle Craft with horrid tales of goats and "buttings" of
"backing down" and "third degree" tortures. Let us speak up like men and
Masons and say roundly that there is nothing in Ancient Craft Masonry which is
undignified, humorous, funny or playful; let us assure him with solemnity that
our ceremonies are beautiful, impressive and instructive; and that behind and
beyond the outward form of the degrees is a spiritual truth, a body of inner
knowledge, an arena of wisdom which benefits any man who receives it, and in
direct proportion to his ability to see behind the symbol to the reality.

Let us minimize the pleasures, and stress the duties when
talking to a profane who wishes to learn of our lodges and their work.
True, the "innocent mirth" of Freemasonry, to quote the "Old Charge," is of
interest and value to us all. Many a lodge is not only a center of union
but a center of social intercourse in its home town. Its amusements and
entertainments may be, and often are, of real value to the community. But
a lodge does not exist merely to entertain and to amuse; in talking to the
profane inquirer, let us lay less emphasis on the by-products of play, and draw
his attention more to the serious and worthwhile sides of lodge life; charity,
instruction, fellowship, mutual trust and dependence; religion without bias or
doctrine - in other words, brotherhood.

So shall we give an intelligent and Masonic answer to an
intelligent and Masonic question, and, perhaps, lay the foundation on which the
bridge will be built over which a new initiate may walk from the North of
darkness into the East of Masonic Light!